Bergkamp shows Cole value of staying power

By SIMON CASS, Daily Mail

Last updated at 10:25 24 July 2006

Eleven years at Arsenal taught Dennis Bergkamp one thing above all — the grass is not always greener elsewhere.

That was the message from the Dutch master after signing off his glittering career with a testimonial against an Ajax team of past and present at Arsenal's magnificent new £390million Emirates Stadium.

And as Ashley Cole weighs up whether his fall-out with the Arsenal hierarchy is beyond repair, or Cesc Fabregas ponders whether a return to Spain with Real Madrid is too good an opportunity to miss, they would do well to heed the wise words of a man with more than 25 years experience in the game.

Doubtless Bergkamp, 37, was faced with similar dilemmas to those of Fabregas and Cole — as were Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, who donned an Arsenal shirt once more in his former teammate's farewell on Saturday.

But, speaking after the curtain-raiser at the Ashburton Grove ground which Arsenal won 2-1 thanks to second-half goals from Henry and Kanu, Bergkamp urged the next generation of Arsenal

stars to cast an eye over his achievements in the famous red and white shirt before deciding on their futures.

Pointing to the examples of Vieira and Henry, Bergkamp said: 'It is difficult in those situations because as a player you know that sometimes it is not easy to stay with a club because you might have a better future somewhere else.

'I think it was always better for Thierry and Patrick to stay at the club because England is fantastic for players like that and now finally we have got a team at Arsenal that can challenge for trophies. There is no need to go anywhere else to have something better.'

The forces which convinced Bergkamp to stay at Highbury are the same as those which persuaded Henry to snub Barcelona. Vieira, of course, chose a different path by opting for a move to Juventus.

But with Juve's relegation to Serie B for their part in the Italian match-fixing scandal, the France midfielder is again being touted for a return to Arsenal. Bergkamp admitted Vieira's future had been the subject of conversation in a dressing room containing such former heroes as Ian Wright, Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars.

'I think about 56 people told him to have another year here,' said Bergkamp when asked whether Vieira should consider coming back.

'Everyone knows what he did in the World Cup and if he could get to that level at Arsenal that would be fantastic of course, but I'm not sure he will do that,' he added.

For now Bergkamp is just happy that he will continue to be able to watch the talents of old strike partner Henry from his box in Arsenal's 60,000-seat arena, when not enjoying a relaxing game of golf or tending to the needs of his four children.

'I am so happy for Thierry that he stayed because I will be sitting in a box this season wanting him to score,' said the Dutchman. 'I do have a special relationship with Thierry. He always showed so much respect towards me and that meant a lot. There is a difference in

years between him and me but I can respect him because of what he does and what he thinks.'

Respect was the order of the day on Saturday and a measure of the esteem in which Bergkamp is held was the appearance of Ajax legends Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard.

But best of all for Bergkamp was the sight of his father Wim, who continues to battle lung cancer, kicking off the game.

'That was so important for me,' admitted Bergkamp Jnr. 'In October, it didn't look like he was going to make it. He had a lot of doubts about that. It was just good to see him here. He has been there from day one, taking me to training, being there in Holland for every game, home and away, with my mum as well.

'Every home game for Arsenal they came over and for me it was just fantastic to finish it in the right way with them both here. It was only right for him to kick off the game.'